You must at least file an application for patent and/or registered design protection, especially if you are planning to sell your product to a toy manufacturer. Most companies will not look at outside ideas unless an application for protection has been obtained. You can hire an agent registered to practise before the UK Patent office to provide this service for you for a fee. You can also seek advice about securing 'unregistered' design protection recently introduced by the EU. Meanwhile, it is important that you document your idea and put the original documentation in a safe place. You may want to keep an 'invention ledger': a bound notebook to record all pertinent information regarding the steps you have taken to protect your idea, a file for legal documents, cancelled cheques, sales receipts etc. Keep this ledger up to date. Include a description and sketch of the product, its elements and how it works. If you make a prototype, photograph or videotape it and keep a copy with the ledger.